The ongoing Simplicity crib recalls have made news again. An announcement has been made that points to 11 deaths from crib malfunctions. There are also an additional 25 non-fatal injuries that are linked to defects in the Simplicity crib drop rails.

This recent announcement on Thursday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission came a reminder for parents to check their infant cribs. Since the first recall began in December 2005, more than 2 million drop-side cribs manufactured by Simplicity have been recalled. Some of the recalled cribs have a Graco logo on them or have a Winnie the Pooh motif rather than a Simplicity brand logo, this has made it difficult for parents to identify if their crib is part of the recall.

The common problem of the recalled cribs have been from the drop side rail. The hardware meant to hold the side onto the bed can break or bend, causing the rail to detach. This creates a dangerous space where a young child can become entrapped and potentially suffocate.

The most recent death, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, was a 7-month-old child from Princeton, Ky. This is a reminder that even older infants can be potential harm from defective cribs.

If you suspect your infant crib is part of the recall you are urged to stop using it immediately and do not attempt to fix the crib yourself. Repair kits are no longer available as Simplicity, and it’s owner SFCA Inc. appear to no longer be operating. Instead parents need to find an alternative safe sleeping environment.

All Simplicity drop side cribs have been recalled. Some of the model numbers include but are not limited to: 4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8050, 8324, 8325, 8620, 8740, 8745, 8748, 8750, 8755, 8756, 8760,8765, 8778, 8800, 8810, 8910, 8993, 8994, 8995, 8996. The recalled drop side cribs were sold in department stores, children’s stores, and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 2005 through June 2009 for between $150 and $300. – Summer, Staff writer

Recent Recalls:

• Dorel Juvenile Group to Recall 450,000 Infant Car Seat/Carriers Due To Fall Hazard
• Infant Entrapment and Suffocation Prompts Stork Craft to Recall More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs
  
• RECALL: 1 Million Kolcraft Play Yards Due to Fall Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc, today announced a voluntary recall of 400,000 Drop side cribs because the crib’s plastic hardware can break or deform, causing the drop side to detach. When the drop side detaches, it creates space between the drop side and the crib mattress. Infants and toddlers can roll into this space and become entrapped which can lead to suffocation.

CPSC is aware of one death involving an 8-month-old child from Houston, Texas who became entrapped and suffocated between the drop side and the crib mattress when a plastic connector on the drop side broke. The child’s death was previously reported by CPSC. CPSC also is aware of an additional 25 incidents involving the drop side detaching from the crib. In six of these incidents, the drop side detached because the plastic flexible tab deformed or broke. In four of the drop side detachment incidents, other plastic parts, including connectors or tracks, deformed or broke. In two of the incidents, two children became entrapped between the drop side and the crib mattress. There were no reported injuries.

This recall involves all drop side cribs with a different or “newer” style of plastic hardware from those cribs recalled in September 2007. This newer style of Simplicity hardware can be identified by a flexible plastic tab at the top of the lower tracks. The recalled model numbers include but may not be limited to: 8050, 8325, 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8765, 8778, 8810, and 8994, 8995, 8996.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby and immediately return the crib to the place of purchase for a refund, replacement or store credit.

Other Recent Recalls:

• RECALL: Simplicity Play Yards Due to Fall and Entrapment Hazards
• RECALL: Jardine Recalls Another 96,000 Cribs Sold by Babies’R’Us Due To Entrapment and Strangulation Hazards
• RECALL: Eddie Bauer Play Yards with Rocking Bassinets by Dorel Due to Suffocation Hazard